They've found a gem in Trent Copeland, why wasn't he in the Ashes, I guess it was the selectors, they still have a few problems to contend with though, mainly in the spinning department and the fact that their main batsmen are aging, but The Kawaja looks set for cricket with the big boys, and maybe Phil Hughes will get the chance to cement his place in the side.

Copeland's name was being bandied about whilst England were there and some commentators wanted him to play.
Poor old Hauritz seems to have been discarded which is sad. It's not so long ago that he was close to par with Swann.
Ponting is showing signs of a return to form which I think is crucial but I'm not greatly impressed with Hughes as a replacement for Katich.
Katich at short leg was impressive in 2009. his run out of Trott in England's first innings and his reaction catch to dismiss Bell in the second were brilliant.

Looking in Wikipedia he made is FC debut late 27/01/10, born 14/03/86, nearly 24, taking 8/92 on debut obviously holding him back for Australia.

Why he came into the FC cricket so late I have no idea.

It's the Australian selection and weak first class system that is to blame, it's hard to believe that 10 years ago they had the best first class system in the world.

I hope so, and good luck to them. I have a lot of respect for the Australian cricket team and hope they beat that lot for sure

It was England, Australia and South Africa that created International cricket, we're heading for that trio to return to the top once again.

i really hope that Australia are on the way back: i think that Test cricket needs a strong Australia to maintain interest as they attract neutral interest more than other teams due to their character and eccentricities. Plus, i wouldn't mind a bit more of a challenge for England in the consecutive Ashes series coming up!

They may have found a bowler.. the bigger problems lays in their batting?.No openers of note ponting of late asnt produced. Ive never rated Clarke.. Hussey is nearly 37.. Oh well their on their way back

Copeland is known to be a good state bowler, but then so were Siddle and Bollinger, anything can happen.

In answer to the OP, don't hold your breath mate.

in such a crickety country like australia, i'm sure they'll find some decent batsmen kawaja looks at least half decent, ponting is quality just off form and steve smith is still very young, i'm sure given time he will come good.

Phil hughes, however, is hopeless. he is a good domestic batsman, no more. i have no idea wjy the selectors have decided to drop katich, he is a very good player, and he even at his age is a far better player than hughes will ever be. also, whatever happened to phil jacques?

If i were the aussie selectors, i would have chosen for this upcoming sl test:

Jacques
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke (c)
Kawaja
Haddin
Johnson (he takes wickets, no idea why)
Hauritz
Copeland
Hilfenhaus (i really rate hilfenhaus)

oops forgot watson, scrap kawaja, and put watson in at 6

Johnson (he takes wickets, no idea why)
Hauritz
Copeland
Hilfenhaus (i really rate hilfenhaus)

I completely agree with this mate. I honestly don't get how Johnson gets wickets but Hilfy gets absolutely none. Hauritz should definitely be in the team aswell.

I think if you let Hughes develop a bit more we will see that he will be a fixture of the Aussie team for years to come.

hughes might make a name for himself as a number 6, but i don't see him as an opener, he seems technichally inept to me.

Ha i hope not i'd like to see oz rock bottom of the rankings for the next 50 years with England hammering them 5 - 0 in every series. Dont wish for a resurgant oz you might regret it!!

273 and it looks like the first test is going the way of Sri Lanka. Australia really do look like second rate park team these days. Who would have thought that would happen so quickly after the demise of the living legends.

Plenty of people. I also say it would be wiser to reserve judgement until SL have completed their first innings.

ok then Dunc, will do brace yourself mind. Catch you back on here at the end of play tomorrow when Sri Lanka are 290 odd for 4 Australia are abysmal, lets not make any mistake about that.

Maksi, I hope to see Oz improve so that our two games in 2013 will be worth watching, which the current series wasn't.

lol hope. I know what you mean, but would be quite happy to hammer them for a couple of years yet
Australia v England is the top sporting event on earth for me, only bettered by the Ryder Cup.

that was supposed to be the second best sporting event on earth

The fightback starts here Maksi, it may be a long and hard road but some day the Aussies will be beating England regularly again.

Is that the day before our sun goes supanova? Australia arent rising from any ashes..

Just wanted to come back on this thread and apologise to Duncan. I was miles out with my prediction, and yet I am delighted with the way your Australians whittled out the Sri Lankans.

Keep up the good work, and as you said earlier, the fightback starts now. Losing wickets in the second innings and I have to admit, I am glued to a fascinating game of Test Match Cricket. Thanks for that. That T20 cra'p we were put through last night was painful

Yeh it's a great test but the groundsman/SL board need a clip round the lug for preparing that pitch, what a joke.

Duncan let's hope it backfires on them.